CALORIES

What is a Calorie?

By definition a calorie is the energy it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water1 degree Celsius

Calories is basically energy that fuels our bodies

Without sufficient calories are heart would not beat, our lungs would not function, and our brains would not work

How many calories should a teenager get?

It is hard to exactly say how many calories a teenager needs without having the following information:

- Physical Size - Expenditure of energy (amount

and type of activity) But if doctors had to give a number they

would say a girl between the ages of 11 – 14 will need about 1800 calories a day.

11 to 14 year old boy will need about 2,220 calories a day.

What happens to calories we don’t work off?

The calories we don’t work off will convert to fat.

Too much fat can lead to health problems

How the body uses calories

Some people mistakenly think that they have to burn off ALL the calories they eat or they will gain weight

That is not true. There are times when you burn off

calories and you don’t even realize it. Ex.) walking your dog or making your bed

Active

Should be at least active for 1 hour a day Being active everyday keeps your body

strong and can help you maintain a health weight

Watching TV and playing video games does not burn off a lot of calories. Limit playing time to 1 to 2 hours a day

A person only burns about 1 calorie per minute watching TV, about the same as sleeping.

Let’s Try It Outhttp://www.mypyramid.gov/mypyramid/index.aspx

http://www.fatcalories.com/